SUNY Niagara Horticulture & Cannabis Program Horticulture & Cannabis Program
A science-first program for students who want real plant knowledge, greenhouse experience, and a clear path into horticulture, cannabis cultivation, and related operations roles.
SUNY Niagara Horticulture & Cannabis Program
SUNY Niagara's Horticulture program blends plant science, hands-on training, field experience, and industry-connected learning. Students build practical skills across greenhouse production, soils, pest management, propagation, and crop quality, then apply that foundation to cannabis-focused coursework and emerging workforce opportunities.
For Western New York students, that makes this program more useful than hype-heavy cannabis marketing courses. It starts with how plants actually grow, how production systems work, and how to troubleshoot real cultivation problems — the kind of knowledge that transfers across greenhouses, gardens, controlled-environment agriculture, and regulated cannabis operations.
The best cannabis training usually starts with plant science, not slogans.
What Sets This Program Apart
It starts with horticulture, not hype
The strongest thing about the program is also the least flashy: it is built on horticulture. Official program materials describe training in plant identification, propagation, growing, installation, maintenance, soil science, and plant protection, with coursework and projects designed around real industry scenarios. That gives students a broader skill base than a cannabis-only crash course.
Students get exposure to real applied work
SUNY Niagara says coursework is based on real-world projects and includes field trips, externships, and collaborative activities with local businesses and trade associations. The program also notes that job placement assistance is available. Classroom theory without industry contact is how people end up with certificates and no traction.
Full curriculum: horticulture foundations plus cannabis-specific coursework
The cannabis curriculum includes core horticulture requirements such as business management, externship, plant biology, soil science, and plant protection, plus electives in cannabis biology, cannabis production, cannabis pest management, cannabis products and technologies, greenhouse management, biochemistry, medical applications, and policy/compliance.
Multiple entry points for different situations
Students can approach SUNY Niagara through the Horticulture A.A.S., the certificate pathway, SUNY-approved microcredentials, or non-credit workforce development classes. The workforce route is open to the public, offers certificates of completion, and can convert up to 7 credits through prior-learning pathways.
Faculty with real investment in the program
Melissa Moore, CNLP, is listed by SUNY Niagara as an Assistant Professor and Horticulture Program Coordinator focused on cannabis education, and leads a million-dollar grant initiative to expand cannabis curricula across four SUNY colleges in Western New York. She helped build the degree program and authored six of its eight cannabis courses.
Statewide SUNY network expanding across WNY
SUNY Niagara's cannabis curriculum is part of a four-college expansion across Western New York. That regional footprint matters for employers looking for local talent and for students who want industry connections that extend beyond a single campus.
The Curriculum
Core Horticulture
- Business Management
- Externship
- Plant Biology
- Soil Science
- Plant Protection / Integrated Pest Management
Cannabis-Specific
- Cannabis Biology
- Cannabis Production
- Cannabis Pest Management
- Cannabis Products and Technologies
- Greenhouse Management
- Introduction to Cannabis Biochemistry
- Medical Applications of Cannabis
- Cannabis Society, Policy, and Compliance
The program also connects to the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute for coursework in culinary cannabis applications.
Entry Pathways
Horticulture A.A.S. Degree
A.A.S. DegreeBest fit for students who want the full two-year credential, a broader horticulture foundation, and more flexibility across cannabis and the wider green industry.
Certificate Pathway
CertificateA shorter route for career changers or working adults who want formal horticulture training and practical experience without committing to the full A.A.S. degree.
Cannabis Microcredentials
MicrocredentialThree focused, SUNY-approved options for cultivation, manufacturing and processing, or business. Good for students who want a targeted, stackable credential in a specific lane.
Workforce Development (Non-Credit)
Non-CreditNon-credit training open to the public. Useful for professionals who want practical exposure first, with the possibility of turning eligible coursework into academic credit later through prior learning pathways.
Senior Scholars — Free Audit (60+)
Free AuditAdults 60+ can audit eligible horticulture and cannabis courses at no cost through Senior Scholars, making this an unusually accessible option for lifelong learners and second-act career explorers.
Where This Leads
Conversations with operators at House of Sacci point to a similar pattern: people coming out of SUNY Niagara aren't just "interested" in cannabis—they're already thinking in terms of cultivation discipline, compliance, and real production environments.
Program Faculty
Melissa Moore, CNLP
Assistant Professor · Horticulture Program Co-Coordinator · Cannabis Instructor
Leads SUNY Niagara's cannabis education initiative and a million-dollar grant to expand cannabis curricula across four SUNY colleges in Western New York. Helped build the degree program and authored six of its eight cannabis courses.
Carolyn Stanko, Senior CNLP
Associate Professor · Horticulture Co-Coordinator · Biology Coordinator
Associate Professor of Horticulture, Horticulture Co-Coordinator, and Biology Coordinator at SUNY Niagara. Senior Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional (CNLP).
Common Questions
Not exactly. The cannabis curriculum sits inside SUNY Niagara's Horticulture program, which offers both a certificate and an A.A.S. degree, plus cannabis-focused microcredentials and non-credit workforce options.
Official pages list courses including Cannabis Production, Cannabis Pest Management, Biology of Cannabis, Cannabis Products and Technologies, Cannabis Society, Policy, and Compliance, Introduction to Cannabis Biochemistry, Medical Applications of Cannabis, and greenhouse-related coursework.
Yes. SUNY Niagara says the program uses real-world projects, professional tools and equipment, field trips, externships, and collaborative activities with local businesses and trade associations.
Yes. Cannabis-based courses are offered through workforce development on a non-credit basis, and SUNY-approved microcredentials are available in Cannabis Cultivation, Cannabis Manufacturing & Processing, and Cannabis Business.
SUNY Niagara says cannabis courses are offered in two modalities: face-to-face on campus and asynchronous web-based learning.
Potentially. SUNY Niagara says workforce development horticulture classes can lead to certificates of completion and that up to 7 credits may be awarded through the Credit for Prior Learning process, subject to requirements.
SUNY Niagara lists careers such as cannabis industry professional, greenhouse grower, garden center or nursery manager, landscape designer, florist and interior plant care specialist, cultivator, propagator, pest management specialist, operations manager, postharvest technician, production manager, and quality control technician.
Yes. The school says students benefit from field trips, externships, collaborative activities with businesses and trade associations, and job placement assistance.
SUNY Niagara lists Melissa Moore, CNLP, as Cannabis Instructor, Assistant Professor, and Horticulture Program Co-Coordinator. She leads a grant initiative to expand cannabis curricula across four SUNY colleges in Western New York and authored six of the program's eight cannabis courses. Carolyn Stanko, Senior CNLP, serves as Associate Professor, Horticulture Co-Coordinator, and Biology Coordinator.
No. The horticulture pathway covers ornamental plants, fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, and hemp, and supports careers across broader green-industry roles as well as cannabis-specific paths.
Yes. SUNY Niagara states that seniors aged 60 and older can audit horticulture and cannabis courses for free through Senior Scholars.